2019–20 Ross County F.C. season

The 2019–20 season was the club's 1st season back in the Scottish Premiership, the top flight of Scottish football, after being promoted as Champions from the Scottish Championship.[1] Ross County also competed in the League Cup and the Scottish Cup.

Ross County
2019–20 season
ChairmanRoy MacGregor
ManagerSteven Ferguson and
Stuart Kettlewell
GroundVictoria Park
Dingwall, Ross-shire
(Capacity: 6,541)
Scottish Premiership10th
Scottish League CupSecond Round
Scottish CupFourth Round
Top goalscorerLeague: Ross Stewart, Billy McKay (7)
All: Ross Stewart, Billy McKay (11)
Highest home attendance6,575 vs Rangers
(League)
Lowest home attendance3,301 vs Livingston
(League)

Results & fixtures

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  Win   Draw   Loss   Postponed

Pre-season

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29 June 2019 Friendly Nairn County 0–3 Ross County Station Park, Nairn
15:00 Stewart  
Mckay  
MacBeath  
29 June 2019 Friendly Forres Mechanics 0–11 Ross County Mosset Park, Forres
15:00 Watson  
McManus        
Paton  
Murray  
Graham      
Armstrong  
5 July 2019 Friendly   Groningen 2–0 Ross County Assen, Netherlands
19:00 Postema   12'
Sierhuis   70'
7 July 2019 Friendly   GFA Deventer City 1–3 Ross County Doorwerth, Netherlands
19:00   Watson  
Graham  
Stewart  
27 July 2019 Friendly Ross County 2–0   Carlisle United Victoria Park
15:00 Power   52'
Vigurs   73'
[1] Attendance: 735
Referee: Steven McLean

Scottish Premiership

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3 August 2019 1 Ross County 3–0 Hamilton Academical Dingwall
15:00 Chalmers   30'
Mckay   36'
Stewart   57'
Report McKenna   1'
MacKinnon   51'
Oakley   71'
Stadium: Victoria Park
Attendance: 4,071
Referee: Alan Newlands
10 August 2019 2 Heart of Midlothian 0–0 Ross County Edinburgh
15:00 Report Morris   45'
Kelly   73'
Spittal   87'
Stadium: Tynecastle
Attendance: 15,652
Referee: Alan Muir
24 August 2019 3 Ross County 1–4 Livingston Dingwall
15:00 Stewart   44' Report Guthrie   3'
Lawless   14'
Dykes   26'
Stobbs   52'
Stadium: Global Energy Stadium
Attendance: 4,237
Referee: John Beaton
31 August 2019 4 Aberdeen 3–0 Ross County Aberdeen
15:00 Leigh   34'
Cosgrove   37' (pen)
Hedges   50'
Ojo   51'
Considine   73'
Report Stewart   27' Stadium: Pittodrie Stadium
Attendance: 13,006
Referee: Nick Walsh
14 September 2019 5 Ross County 2–1 St Mirren Dingwall
15:00 Stewart   62'
Fraser   90+2'
Report Andreu   72' Stadium: Victoria Park
Attendance: 3,637
Referee: Colin Steven
21 September 2019 6 Motherwell 1–2 Ross County Motherwell
15:00 Gallagher   58'
Campbell   61'
Carroll   78'   80'
Report Graham   75'
Gardyne   84'
Stewart   88'
Spittal   90+4'
Stadium: Fir Park
Attendance: 4,620
Referee: Alan Muir
28 September 2019 7 Kilmarnock 0–0 Ross County Kilmarnock
15:00 Report Gardyne   40'
Fraser   82'
Stadium: Fir Park
Attendance: 4,906
Referee: Alan Newlands
5 October 2019 8 Ross County 2–2 St Johnstone Dingwall
15:00 Chalmers   10'
Spittal   68'
Report May   24'
Kennedy   51'
Stadium: Victoria Park
Attendance: 4,124
Referee: Euan Anderson
19 October 2019 9 Celtic 6–0 Ross County Glasgow
Elyounoussi   4', 72'
Édouard   46'
McGregor   49'
Fontaine   50' (o.g.)
Forrest   55'
Report Stadium: Celtic Park
Attendance: 58,560
Referee: Don Robertson
26 October 2019 10 Hibernian 2–2 Ross County Edinburgh
Horgan   50'
Allan   56'
Report Graham   72'
Chalmers   90'
Stadium: Easter Road
Attendance: 15,452
Referee: Steven Maclean
30 October 2019 11 Ross County 0−4 Rangers Dingwall
19:45 Stewart   59' Report Morelos   20', 71'
Jack   29', 37'
Stadium: Global Energy Stadium
Attendance: 6,575
Referee: Bobby Madden
2 November 2019 12 Hamilton Academical 2–2 Ross County Hamilton
15:00 Smith   52'
Oakley   64'
Martin   90+3'
Report McKay   1'
Graham   88'
Stadium: New Douglas Park
Attendance: 1,268
Referee: Colin Steven
9 November 2019 13 Ross County 1–3 Aberdeen Aberdeen
15:00 GMT Mullin   5' (pen.)
Morris   22'
Fontaine   84'
Report McGinn   10'
Hedges   52'
Ferguson   64'
Considine   70'
Stadium: Global Energy Stadium
Attendance: 6,510
Referee: Alan Newlands
23 November 2019 14 St Mirren 2–1 Ross County Paisley
15:00 McLoughlin   43'
Foley   88'
Graham   24' Stadium: St Mirren Park
Attendance: 4,708
Referee: Euan Anderson
1 December 2019 15 Ross County 1–4 Celtic Dingwall
Stewart   24' Report Christie   11', 38'
Rogic   67'
Johnston   73'
Stadium: Victoria Park
Attendance: 6,512
Referee: Nick Walsh
4 December 2019 16 Ross County 2–1 Hibernian Dingwall
Stewart   65', 75' Report Doidge   34' Stadium: Victoria Park
Attendance: 4,196
Referee: David Munro
14 December 2019 17 Ross County 1–0 Kilmarnock Dingwall
Erwin   90+2' Report Stadium: Victoria Park
Attendance: 3,688
Referee: Alan Muir
21 December 2019 18 Livingston 4 − 0 Ross County Almondvale Stadium
15:00 Lamie   31'
Dykes   41', 50', 73'
Sibbald   60'
Report Attendance: 1,201
Referee: Colin Steven
26 December 2019 19 Ross County 1 – 2 Motherwell Dingwall
15:00 GMT (UTC) Spittal   24'
Spence   48'   62'
Foster   71'
Fontaine   90+4'
Graham   90+5'
Report Gallagher   49'   90+2'
Maciver   81'
Hartley   90+4'
Polworth   90+5'
Stadium: Victoria Park
Attendance: 4,181
Referee: Greg Aitken
29 December 2019 20 St Johnstone 1 − 1 Ross County McDiarmid Park
15:00 Hendry   84' Report Vigurs   72'
Graham   68'   90+3'
Attendance: 2,658
Referee: Bobby Madden
22 January 2020 21 Ross County 0 – 0 Heart of Midlothian Dingwall
19:45 Vigurs   81' Report Souttar   90+2' Stadium: Victoria Park
Attendance: 4,301
Referee: Gavin Duncan
25 January 2020 22 Celtic 3 – 0 Ross County Glasgow
McGregor   37' (pen.)
Bauer   51'
Édouard   65',   68'
Report Stadium: Celtic Park
Attendance: 58,785
Referee: Kevin Clancy
29 January 2020 23 Rangers 2−0 Ross County Glasgow
19:45 Defoe   41'
Arfield   47'
Goldson   52'
Polster   67'
Report Mullin   45'
Spence   74'
Kelly   76'
Fraser   86'
Stadium: Ibrox Stadium
Attendance: 47,583
Referee: Don Robertson
1 February 2020 24 Kilmarnock 3–1 Ross County Kilmarnock
15:00 Brophy   54', 57'
Kabamba   82'
Report Vigurs   25' Stadium: Fir Park
Attendance: 4,733
Referee: Willie Collum
5 February 2020 25 Ross County 2–0 Livingston Dingwall
19:45 McKay   2', 59' Report Stadium: Global Energy Stadium
Attendance: 3,301
Referee: Nick Walsh
12 February 2020 26 Hibernian 3–0 Ross County Edinburgh
19:45 McNulty   7'
Doidge   41'
Jackson   84'
Report Stadium: Easter Road
Attendance: 14,486
Referee: Steven McLean
15 February 2020 27 Ross County 1–1 St Johnstone Dingwall
15:00 McKay   90+4' Report May   33' Stadium: Victoria Park
Attendance: 3,569
Referee: Colin Dteven
22 February 2020 28 Aberdeen 1–2 Ross County Aberdeen
15:00 Main   28'
Campbell   18'   32'
Report McKay   43', 88' Stadium: Pittodrie Stadium
Attendance: 14,860
Referee: Gavin Duncan
4 March 2020 29 Motherwell 4 – 1 Ross County Motherwell
19:45 O'Hara   17'
Aarons   20'
Campbell   25', 75'
Tait   65'
Watt   90+3'
Report Fontaine   3'
Morris   16'
Vigurs   64'
Stewart   80'
Stadium: Fir Park
Attendance: 3,191
Referee: Alan Muir
8 March 2020 30 Ross County 0−1 Rangers Dingwall
12:00 Fontaine   12'
Stewart   56'
Spittal   90+1'
Morris   90+5'
Report Kent   77' Stadium: Global Energy Stadium
Attendance: 6,400
Referee: Andrew Dallas

Scottish League Cup

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13 July 2019 Ross County 4–1 Montrose Dingwall
15:00 Mullin   7'
Stewart   13', 46'
Mckay   85'
[2] Lyons   18'
Allan   51'
Stadium: Victoria Park
Attendance: 1,159
Referee: Chris Fordyce
16 July 2019 Brechin City 0–4 Ross County Brechin
19:45 [3] Stewart   33', 44'
Mckay   49'
Spittal   75'
Stadium: Glebe Park
Attendance: 272
Referee: Alan Newlands
21 July 2019 St Johnstone 1–2 Ross County Perth
15:00 Tanser   8' (pen.)
Craig   73'
Mckay   30', 45+1'
Vigurs   63'
Stadium: McDiarmid Park
Attendance: 1,648
Referee: Bobby Madden
24 July 2019 Ross County 2–0 Forfar Athletic Dingwall
19:45 Graham   15', 76' [2] Bain   66' Stadium: Victoria Park
Attendance: 1,002
Referee: Willie Collum
17 August 2019 Partick Thistle 3–2 (a.e.t.) Ross County Glasgow
15:00
[3]
Stadium: Firhill Stadium
Attendance: 2,053
Referee: Steven McLean

Scottish Cup

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18 January 2020 Ayr United 1–0 Ross County Ayr
15:00 Bell   37' Report Stadium: Somerset Park
Attendance: 1,538
Referee: Andrew Dallas

Squad statistics

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Appearances

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As of 8 March 2020

No. Pos Nat Player Total Premiership Scottish Cup League Cup
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1 GK   SCO Ross Laidlaw 22 0 17 0 0 0 5 0
2 DF   SCO Marcus Fraser(c) 31 1 25+1 1 0 0 4+1 0
3 DF   SCO Sean Kelly 23 0 18 0 1 0 4 0
4 DF   ENG Liam Fontaine 27 1 22 1 1 0 4 0
5 DF   NIR Callum Morris 19 0 17 0 0 0 2 0
6 MF   ENG Ross Draper 12 0 8+3 0 0 0 1 0
7 FW   SCO Michael Gardyne 17 0 13+1 0 0 0 2+1 0
8 FW   SCO Lee Erwin 19 1 11+6 1 1 0 0+1 0
9 FW   NIR Billy Mckay 33 11 22+5 7 0+1 0 4+1 4
11 MF   SCO Iain Vigurs 22 2 16 2 1 0 3+2 0
12 DF   ENG Tom Grivosti 8 0 5+1 0 0 0 2 0
14 MF   SCO Josh Mullin 32 2 21+6 1 1 0 3+1 1
15 DF   SCO Keith Watson 20 0 14+3 0 0 0 2+1 0
16 MF   SCO Lewis Spence 15 0 10+5 0 0 0 0 0
18 DF   SCO Richard Foster 21 0 19+1 0 1 0 0 0
19 FW   SCO Oli Shaw 7 0 2+5 0 0 0 0 0
20 MF   SCO Blair Spittal 26 4 10+10 2 1 0 4+1 2
21 GK   ENG Nathan Baxter 14 0 13 0 1 0 0 0
22 MF   ENG Jordan Tillson 8 0 5+2 0 1 0 0 0
23 MF   SCO Joe Chalmers 19 3 6+8 3 0 0 4+1 0
24 MF   CAN Harry Paton 23 1 11+8 0 1 0 2+1 1
25 DF   SCO Coll Donaldson 8 0 7 0 1 0 0 0
26 MF   SCO Don Cowie 9 0 7+2 0 0 0 0 0
27 FW   SCO Ross Stewart 26 11 19+2 7 0 0 4+1 4
38 DF   SCO Ruari Fraser 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
41 GK   ENG Tommy Dixon-Hodge 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
43 DF   SCO Josh Reid 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
44 FW   SCO Matthew Wright 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Players who left the club during the season
8 MF   SCO Jamie Lindsay 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
17 MF   SCO Ewan Henderson 10 0 6+3 0 0+1 0 0 0
19 FW   SCO Brian Graham 23 6 5+13 4 0+1 0 2+2 2
22 MF   IRL Simon Power 4 0 0+1 0 0 0 1+2 0
25 GK   SCO Jack Ruddy 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
36 MF   SCO Mark Gallagher 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Goalscorers

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Rank Pos. Player Premiership Scottish Cup League Cup Total
1 ST   Ross Stewart 7 0 4 11
ST   Billy Mckay 7 0 4 11
3 ST   Brian Graham 4 0 2 6
4 MF   Blair Spittal 2 0 2 4
5 MF   Joe Chalmers 3 0 0 3
6 MF   Iain Vigurs 2 0 0 2
MF   Josh Mullin 1 0 1 2
7 DF   Liam Fontaine 1 0 0 1
DF   Marcus Fraser 1 0 0 1
FW   Lee Erwin 1 0 0 1
MF   Harry Paton 0 0 1 1
Totals 29 0 14 43
Last updated: 4 March 2020

Team statistics

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League table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts PPG Qualification or relegation[a]
8 Kilmarnock 30 9 6 15 31 41 −10 33 1.10
9 St Mirren 30 7 8 15 24 41 −17 29 0.97
10 Ross County 30 7 8 15 29 60 −31 29 0.97
11 Hamilton Academical 30 6 9 15 30 50 −20 27 0.90
12 Heart of Midlothian (R) 30 4 11 15 31 52 −21 23 0.77 Relegation to the Championship
Source: BBC SPFL
Rules for classification: 1) Points per game; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head points; 5) Head-to-Head goal difference; 6) Play-off (only if deciding champion, UEFA competitions qualification, second stage group allocation or relegation).[5]
(R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ All play-off matches were cancelled, as clubs voted to curtail the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[4]

League Cup table

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Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification ROS FOR MON STJ BRE
1 Ross County 4 4 0 0 0 12 2 +10 12 Qualification for the Second Round 2–0 4–1
2 Forfar Athletic 4 3 0 0 1 9 4 +5 9 2–1 3–0
3 Montrose 4 1 1 0 2 4 9 −5 5 1–4 1–0
4 St Johnstone 4 1 0 0 3 6 5 +1 3 1–2 4–0
5 Brechin City 4 0 0 1 3 1 12 −11 1 0–4 1–1p
Source: [6]
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[7]

Transfers

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See also

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Notes and references

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  1. ^ "Ross County secure title and promotion". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  2. ^ "Ross County v Forfar Athletic". www.bbc.co.uk/sport. BBC Sport. 24 July 2019. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  3. ^ Crawford, Kenny (17 August 2019). "Partick Thistle 3–2 Ross County (AET): Steven Saunders the hero for hosts". www.bbc.co.uk/sport. BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  4. ^ "Dundee Utd, Raith & Cove win titles and reconstruction talks start after Dundee vote". BBC Sport. 15 April 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  5. ^ "The Rules of the Scottish Professional Football League" (PDF). SPFL. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  6. ^ "Summary - League Cup Group B". Soccerway. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  7. ^ "Format". SPFL. Archived from the original on 1 October 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  8. ^ "Joe Chalmers: Ross County to sign Inverness CT player". BBC Sport. 20 May 2019. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  9. ^ "Ross County sign goalkeeper Ross Laidlaw on pre-contract deal". Press and Journal. 30 May 2019. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  10. ^ Smith, Tyrone (4 June 2019). "Ross County: Blair Spittal out to 'rebuild reputation' after Partick Thistle exit". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
  11. ^ "County sign Chelsea goalkeeper on season-long loan". Press and Journal. 19 June 2019. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  12. ^ "In-demand Norwich City winger seals loan switch to Scottish top-flight". Eastern Daily Press. 4 July 2019. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
  13. ^ "Ross County sign goalkeeper Jack Ruddy on a six-month deal". BBC Sport. 23 July 2019. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  14. ^ "Ross County sign goalkeeper Jack Ruddy on a six-month deal". BBC Sport. 23 July 2019. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  15. ^ "Steven Mackay sold Greg Morrison on Brora Rangers move after Ross County release". 25 May 2019. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  16. ^ "Callum Semple leaves Ross County". Press and Journal. 24 June 2019. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  17. ^ "Scott Fox: Goalkeeper leaves Ross County after talks breakdown". BBC Sport. 17 May 2019. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  18. ^ "Declan joins McKinnon's Bairns on Loan". Ross County FC. 16 July 2019. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  19. ^ Skinner, Andy (24 July 2019). "Lindsay leaves County to join Rotherham". Press & Journal. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  20. ^ "Keny van der Weg: Defender leaves Ross County to return to Holland". BBC Sport. 16 August 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2019.